Megan Self, Class of 2012

Program Development in Juvenile Arthritis and Transitioning My expert mentor was Hope Owens, the Program and Services Director for Tennessee at the Arthritis Foundation, Southeast Region, Inc. in Nashville, Tennessee. During my residency, I worked collaboratively with the Arthritis Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of individuals with arthritis through “prevention, control, and cure of arthritis and related diseases.” The goal of my residency was to increase the availability of social support programming for children with Juvenile Arthritis and their families, in order to promote development of self-esteem and confidence needed for a healthy, successful transition to adulthood. In pursuit of this goal, I planned Tennessee’s first ever Arthritis Foundation JA Family Fun Day events for Spring 2012. These events will be held bi-yearly to create educational and networking opportunities for parents, while allowing children with JA and their siblings to connect with other children with JA through fun activities. Additionally, I created educational resources to supplement the Supporting Arthritis Kids (SAK) backpack and binder program. I also selected materials and created resources for the soon-to-launch School Program, which will provide JA education and support for school nurses. It is my hope that these projects will contribute to families feeling more informed and less alone as the child develops, creating a healthier, happier family unit.

Megan Self, Resident

School of Occupational TherapyAdmissions 615-460-6798 | Main 615-460-6700